New Hope Arises for MS Patients Seeking a Cannabis Solution
It is possible to take medical marijuana or approved cannabis in different ways, including eating it.
In states such as California in the US, medical marijuana dispensaries have sprung up, offering a wide range of ways to absorb the drug.
One such shop in Harbor City, California, for example, has an extensive menu from which pre-approved customers can buy a range of medicated goodies, including “edibles” such as chocolate fudge brownies, peanut butter, cookies and lollipops.
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However, it’s unlikely that we will see something similar in Ireland, as to date only the oral spray has been approved by the Irish Medical Board.
Does cannabis work as a medicine?
Given it is now widely used across the world, there is strong support for the drug, with plenty of studies finding in favour of Sativex.
In May last year, for example, the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) published a study which showed that marijuana helps alleviate pain and muscle tightness in patients with MS.
And there is a groundswell of support for its introduction, with a recent survey from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol showing that two-thirds of people surveyed agreed that cannabis use should be permitted for medical reasons.
However, there are some dissenters who argue that the drug is not all it aspires to be. A survey in the December issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, for example, found that there was no strong evidence to back the use of cannabis extract in the treatment of MS.
Are there side effects?
Given that we hear so much about the damage cannabis can wreak on the body, is it reasonable to expect that there might be similar side effects with Sativex?
While it’s administered as an oral spray, which ensures that the patient’s health will not be harmed by the impact of smoking, the drug nonetheless has other effects, although not everyone taking the drug may experience them.
These include dry mouth, sickness and diarrhoea, as well as “cannabinoid intoxication”, which may leave the patient feeling drunk, disoriented, disassociated and euphoric.
The manufacturer also warns that some people may feel depressed or confused or over-excited; may lose touch with reality; may have difficulties with memory or trouble concentrating; and may feel sleepy or giddy.
In this respect, alcohol is not recommended. The drug may also affect a person’s ability to drive and carry out complicated tasks.
How much will it cost?
In Spain, Sativex sells for €4.40 per day but MS Ireland expects the drug will cost about £175 (€ 200/€ 6.60-€ 13.00 per day) for a two-week/monthly prescription.
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(New Hope Arises for MS Patients Seeking a Cannabis Solution)